There’s really no shortage of options in the car market these days. The past few years has seen an influx of new brands with attractive offerings that challenge the establishment in various aspects, but more often than not, price and value are the main selling points. That’s a normal strategy for challenger brands, in any sector.
Great value is typically allied with eye-catching modern designs and generous equipment levels – this concoction has won the challenger brands encouraging sales. Even those who are less into ‘soft’ attractions such as design and kit might be swayed by the strong figures on the spec sheet.
It’s an attractive combination, and many – especially first-time buyers – might have their heads turned, so to speak. However, some tend to overlook long-term ownership as a factor; perhaps, this is influenced by the fast turnover in gadgets and fast fashion in today’s world.
If there’s not much downside to changing your phone to the latest version, or refreshing your wardrobe frequently (provided one can afford to do so), it’s not as straightforward for a car. You see, a car is typically the second biggest purchase in our lifetime, second to only a home. For many who are younger or those who choose to rent instead of committing to a home loan for decades, buying a car will be their costliest undertaking.
Changing cars after two or three years will cost one dearly. In many cases, the depreciation of the car is much steeper than the reduction of the loan amount, and if one chooses to sell after a couple of years, he/she might have to top-up a considerable amount to the bank to cover the outstanding loan amount. In many cases, the differential is large – as such, many are ‘stuck’ to their purchases, unable to move on as doing so is simply too costly.
As such, it pays – literally – to look at a car purchase with a longer term point of view. Do so and you’ll most likely arrive at Toyota, which reputation for reliability and dependability has been forged from decades of excellence, with industry-leading resale value as a tangible bonus.
Toyota Extra Mile is a company philosophy that ‘goes the extra mile’ for the customer throughout the ownership journey, from buying to servicing and owning, ensuring that customer satisfaction lasts beyond the initial sales process.
Toyota has a range of financing plans that ranges from all-in subscription plans to a Variable Rate Plan that works like a home loan – you can pay more when funds are available, and it’ll shorten the tenure and interest paid. Aside from partnering with major banks, the carmaker also has its in-house Toyota Capital Service arm that supports low instalment plans such as nine years step-up financing.
When purchasing a car, it’s wise to also opt into Toyota Insurance Package with its numerous exclusive benefits and Toyota Service Savers, which essentially is pre-paying for service packages with substantial savings.
Speaking of maintenance and servicing, this is an important aspect of car ownership that is often overlooked by customers, along with important things such as the size of the brands’s service network and the quality and track record. Toyota’s legendary reliability is underpinned by MaxCheck and Care Plus complete maintenance packages, backed by the use of Toyota Genuine Parts and trained technicians.
Drive your Toyota with ultimate peace of mind, knowing that you’re protected by Toyota 247 Road Assist and the Toyota Vehicle Telematics System. VTS pairs with the Toyota MY app to let you locate your car via GPS, check trip history and in the unfortunate case of theft, provide 24-hour recovery support in conjunction with PDRM.
If your vehicle is damaged, Toyota Body & Paint Service Centres are equipped with state-of-the-art repair equipment manned by specialised technicians using Toyota Genuine Parts. From body respray up to chassis realignment, your vehicle is repaired according to Toyota’s exacting standards and repairs come with a 12-month warranty as well.
A well-maintained Toyota will serve you well for years to come, decades even, but when you finally decide to move on, Toyotas are known to retain their values very well, and this strong resale value – which stems from strong market demand for used Toyotas due to their reliability – is an undoubted asset.
From buying to selling and the many miles of driving in between, long-term owner satisfaction is at the core of Toyota’s Extra Mile philosophy.